1999 Richebourg
By Domaine Meo-Camuzet
1999 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet, Burgundy, France
The 1999 Richebourg from Domaine Meo-Camuzet stands as a testament to the celestial alchemy of an iconic terroir meeting an exemplary vintage. Amidst the pantheon of Burgundy's finest, this wine’s narrative is woven with the threads of meticulous viticulture and a season that winemakers still speak of in hushed, reverent tones. My own journey, circumnavigating the vinous globe, repeatedly anchors at this Burgundian haven – where the 1999 vintage occupies a special chapter in my annals of oenological encounters.
A Vintage Singularity: The 1999 Imprint
The 1999 harvest in Burgundy was hailed for the seamless marriage of quantity and quality – a rare bipartite alliance. Amidst these harvests, Richebourg's singularity shines through. Domaine Meo-Camuzet's interpretation of this exceptional year yields a wine characterised by its complex bouquet and prodigious structure – embodying the synergy between a generous season and restrained opulence.
The Serenade of '99: A Symphony in a Bottle
A narrative in nuances, the 1999 Richebourg elucidates eloquence without utterance. Its olfactory tapestry intertwines rich dark fruits with an underlying chorus of earth and subtle spices, heralding a profound palate experience that cascades from poised potency to silken subtlety. This vintage is akin to a symphony – where each sip feels like a movement that resonates across the palate with graceful tannins and elongated finish.
Twenty-plus years since its auspicious inception, this offering from Domaine Meo-Camuzet remains a compelling candidate for wine investment portfolios – proffering not only sensual delight but promising appreciative value over time.
Make no mistake, while each vintage has its tales to tell, the 1999 Richebourg is an anthology of all it beholds - one which unequivocally warrants its esteemed position within collectors' favour and discerning palates alike. Delving into this bottle is to engage with history itself; each glass poured imparts a chapter from 1999's grand Burgundian narrative that continues to unfold profoundly into the present day.
Market price (HKD)
HK$366,420.00
12x75cl
Highest score
92
POP score
3194.17
Scores and tasting notes
The 1999 Richebourg Grand Cru, now at 14 years of age, continues to sport a deep ruby color. It has an assertive, quite forceful bouquet that is rich and generous, offering dark plum, iodine and cassis fruit along with fairly prominent new oak that gives it a youthful sheen. The palate is nicely balanced with firm tannins, powerful dark cherry and cassis fruit and a tightly wound, structured finish. It is more an impressive Richebourg than one that exudes breeding, and if truth be told, it is out-classed by being flanked by two DRCs from the same vintage. Maybe it will improve with continued bottle age, but somehow, it feels like a Richebourg that did not know the bar is set so high. I have had the pleasure of superior vintages from Meo-Camuzet in the past. Drink now-2025.
Neal Martin - The Wine Advocate, 28 August 2013